Display controlling apparatus and method, and storage medium

ABSTRACT

A display controlling apparatus of the present invention is for controlling a display apparatus which displays TV program information, and comprises receiving means for receiving program information on a plurality of programs, display control means for controlling so as to display first program information on the plurality of programs on the basis of the program information received by the receiving means on display means, and selection means for selecting first program information relating to an arbitrary program in the first program information displayed on the display means, wherein the display control means is constructed so as to control so as to display second program information on a program relating to the first program information selected by the selection means, and controls so as to display the second program information on a plurality of the selected programs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to display controlling apparatusand methods for controlling apparatus capable of displaying programinformation, e.g., display apparatus capable of displaying EPG(Electronic Program Guide) transmitted in digital televisionbroadcasting, and storage media storing processing steps forimplementing it so as to be readable by computers.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] In digital satellite television (TV) broadcasting currentlyperformed using a communication satellite (CS) or a broadcastingsatellite (BS), as a part of audience service, EPG (Electronic ProgramGuide) is transmitted together with video and audio data. Besides, alsoin ground wave digital TV broadcasting scheduled in future, it isthinkable that the above EPG service is performed. Note that in thebelow description, digital satellite TV broadcasting, ground wavedigital TV broadcasting, etc., are simply referred to as “digital TVbroadcasting” in a lump.

[0005] Here, by the fact that digital TV broadcasting is multi-channelbroadcasting, EPG is very useful information as channel selectioninformation for users. For example, on the receiver side, by displayingEPG contained in received data on a screen, a user can easily graspbroadcasting times of programs, detailed contents of programs, genres,charge information, etc., from the contents on the display screen.

[0006]FIG. 17 illustrates the construction of a conventional digital TVbroadcasting receiver 900.

[0007] As illustrated in the above FIG. 17, the receiver 900 has aconstruction in which a tuner unit 901, a descrambler 902, ademultiplexer 903, a video decoder 904, an audio decoder 905, an EPGdecoder 906, a memory 907, an EPG screen composition unit 908, a displaycontrol unit 909, a digital/analogue converter (DAC) 910, an imagedisplay unit 912, a voice output unit 913, an operation unit 914, alight-receiving unit 915, a remote controller 916, an IC card controlunit 917, a system control unit 918, a cursor designation distinctionunit 919, and a cursor generating unit 920 are connected through asystem bus 930.

[0008] The tuner unit 901 receives data from an antenna and performsprocessing of demodulation, error correction, etc., of the receiveddata.

[0009] In case that scramble for audience limitation is applied to thedata (transport stream (TS)) after processing in the tuner unit 901, thedescrambler 902 cancels the scramble of TS on the basis of informationfrom the IC card control unit 917 and information contained in the TS.

[0010] The demultiplexer 903 takes video data D1, audio data D2, and EPGdata D3 of a desired channel out of TS from the descrambler 902, i.e.,TS in which video data, audio data, EPG data, etc., for a plurality ofchannels are time-division-multiplexed, supplies the video data D1 tothe video decoder 904, supplies the audio data D2 to the audio decoder905, and supplies the EPG data D3 to the EPG decoder 906. The audiodecoder 905 decodes the audio data D2 from the demultiplexer 903 andoutputs it. The DAC 910 converts the output data of the audio decoder905 into an analogue signal and then voice-outputs it through the voiceoutput unit 913. Although the video decoder 904 decodes the video dataD1 (data coded by MPEG2 or the like) from the demultiplexer 903 and theEPG decoder 906 similarly decodes the EPG data D3 from the demultiplexer903, these decode and reproduction will be described below morespecifically.

[0011] First, the EPG data D3 is mainly composed of data concerning anetwork name, channel numbers (or names), broadcasting times, programtitles, program contents, charge information, current time, and so on.Besides, the EPG data D3 can not directly perform screen display and onthe basis of this EPG data D3, EPG display data D4 for screen displaymust be generated. More specifically, data necessary for composing EPGis transmitted by a data structure regulated by “IEC13818-1MPEG2SYSTEM”, a standard “program arrangement information used in digitalbroadcasting” by Association of Radio Industries and Businesses (popularname ARIB), and so on.

[0012] In the above data structures, as principal data structures forcomposing EPG, the following data structures can be mentioned:

[0013] NIT (Network Information Table) by which information on thephysical construction of TS transmitted by a network, informationindicating the name and characteristics of the network itself, etc., aretransmitted.

[0014] SDT (Service Description Table) by which information on the namesof drawing-up channels, the name of a broadcasting industry, anddrawing-up channels is transmitted.

[0015] BAT (Bouquet Association Table) by which information on bouquetsuch as the name of a bouquet (a group of drawing-up channels),contained drawing-up channels, and so on, etc., are transmitted.

[0016] EIT (Event Information Table) by which information on programsuch as title, broadcasting start data and time, explanation ofcontents, and so on is transmitted.

[0017] TDT (Time Date Table) by which information on current data andtime, etc., are transmitted.

[0018] As for TDT, for example, it is received by the receiver 900, andif the current date and time in the receiver 900 is incorrect, it iscorrected (updated) to the date and time shown by TDT.

[0019] So, although the EPG decoder 906 generates EPG display data D4 bydecoding the EPG data D3 from the demultiplexer 903, the EPG data D3 isonce stored in the memory 907 before being supplied to the EPG decoder906. And, in case that instructions for EPG display are given, the EPGdata D3 stored in the memory 907 is input to the EPG decoder 906. TheEPG decoder 906 decodes the EPG data D3 from the memory 907 to generateEPG display data D4, and supplies it to the EPG screen composition unit908. The EPG screen composition unit 908 composes an EPG screen on thebasis of the EPG display data D4 from the EPG decoder 906.

[0020]FIG. 18 illustrates processing for EPG screen composition by theEPG screen composition unit 908.

[0021] First, when an instruction for displaying EPG is input from auser through the operation unit 914 as a user interface or through thelight-receiving unit 915 from the remote controller 916, by the inputinstruction, the system control unit 918 performs the followingoperation control for displaying EPG (step 1001).

[0022] By the operation control of the system control unit 918, the EPGdecoder 906 generates EPG display data D4 by decoding the EPG data D3output from the memory 907 as described above, and supplies it to theEPG screen composition unit 908. The EPG screen composition unit 908takes in SDT from the EPG display data D4 from the EPG decoder 906, andacquires information on check of the presence/absence information onprograms belonging to a channel, channel names of its and other streams,channel numbers, etc., indicated by the SDT (step 1002).

[0023] Besides, the EPG screen composition unit 908 takes in EIT fromthe above EPG display data D4, and acquires information on programtitles in each channel of its and other streams, the start times,genres, explanation of the programs, charge information, etc., indicatedby the EIT (step 1003). And, the EPG screen composition unit 908composes an EPG screen on the basis of the information acquired in step1002 and step 1003 (step 1004). Although the details will be describedlater, the display control unit 909 performs control fordisplay-outputting on the image display unit 912 the EPG screen obtainedby the EPG screen composition unit 908 (step 1005). Note that as for NITdescribing information on network name and so on and TDT describinginformation on current date and time and so on, assuming that they areacquired in general when the receiver 900 is powered on, processingconcerning this is omitted from the flowchart of the above FIG. 18.

[0024] Processing of step 1005 illustrated in the above FIG. 18 will bedescribed more specifically. First, the display control unit 909 issupplied with the EPG screen obtained by the EPG screen composition unit908 and video data D1 decoded by the video decoder 904. The displaycontrol unit 909 switches the data of the EPG screen and the video dataafter decoding with each other and displays them to the image displayunit 912, or performs control for OSD (On Screen Display) displaying theEPG screen to the image display unit 912.

[0025]FIG. 19 illustrates an example of display screen (EPG screen 1100)on the image display unit 912 by the control of the display control unit909. In the above FIG. 19, reference numeral “1101” denotes a displayarea for indicating channel names or channel number, and referencenumeral “1102” does a time axis for specifying the start and end timesof each channel program. Reference numeral “1103” denotes a selectioncursor for selecting a desired program in each channel program, andreference numeral “1104” does an area for displaying the channel name orchannel, number, program title, broadcasting date and time, programcontents, genre, charge information, etc., of the program selected bythe selection cursor 1103. Reference numeral “1105” denotes a displayarea for indicating the current date and time, and reference numeral“1106” does a display area for indicating the name of the networkcurrently selected. The selection cursor 1103 is generated by the cursorgenerating unit 920 (see the above FIG. 17), and is capable of itsmovement, designation of an arbitrary area, and so on, by the operationunit 914 or the remote controller 916.

[0026]FIGS. 20A and 20B illustrate the constructions of the operationunit 914 and the remote controller 916. In the above FIGS. 20A and 20B,reference numeral “1201” denotes a light-receiving unit for performingan infrared communication between the remote controller 916 and thelight-receiving unit 915 of the receiver 900 (see the above FIG. 17).Reference numeral “1202” denotes a 10-key for inputting a channel numberor the like, and reference numeral “1203” does an EPG display button fordisplaying an EPG screen. Reference numerals “1204 a to 1204 d” denotecursor buttons for moving the selection cursor 1103 (see the above FIG.19) upward, downward, leftward, and rightward, and reference numeral“1205” does a determination button for performing a determination of anarea selection designated by the selection cursor 1103.

[0027] By operating the operation unit 914 and the remote controller 916as illustrated in the above FIGS. 20A and 20B, in the image display unit912, the user can perform display of the EPG screen 1100, movement ofthe selection cursor 1103, selection of a channel, and so on.

[0028] For example, in the EPG screen 1100 of the above FIG. 19, thefollowing information can be recognized:

[0029] that the current date and time is AM 6:32 of Nov. 17, 1998.

[0030] the programs to be broadcasted between AM 6:00 and AM 10:00 inthe channel numbers 101 to 107.

[0031] the contents of the program “cooking 5” scheduled to bebroadcasted from AM 8:00 to AM 10:00 in 107 channel.

[0032] In the state of the EPG screen 1100 of the above FIG. 19, byoperating the cursor buttons 1204 a to 1204 d of the operation unit 914or the remote controller 916, if the selection cursor 1103 is movedrightward, the EPG screen 1100 is scrolled in a direction of the timeaxis (a lateral direction). By this, the EPG screen after AM 10:00 canbe displayed. Also, if the selection cursor 1103 is moved downward, theEPG screen 1100 is scrolled in a direction of the channel display axis(a vertical direction). By this, display of the EPG screen after 107channel and display of the EPG screen after 10:00 can be performed.

[0033] By the operation as described above, out of the program namesdisplayed by the EPG screen 1100, the user selects an audience selectioncandidate program (adjusts the selection cursor 1103), refers detailedinformation on the audience selection candidate program displayed to thedisplay area 1104, and by the determination button 1205, true-selects(audience-determines) the audience selection candidate program as aprogram to be actually viewed.

[0034] In the conventional receiver 900 as shown in the above FIG. 17,however, though the channels broadcasted in digital TV broadcastingreach several hundreds, only part of information can be displayed in theEPG screen 1100, as illustrated in the above FIG. 19.

[0035] In the example of screen of the above FIG. 19, only displayed arethe program titles corresponding to about four hours in relation toseven channels of 101 channel to 107 channel. Besides, in the displayarea 1104, although detailed information attendant upon a program(information on the contents of the program, the genre of the program,the charge information for the program, the broadcasting time of theprogram, etc.) is displayed, it corresponds to only one program anddetailed information attendant upon another program is not displayed.

[0036] Therefore, the user could not easily and efficiently select adesired program with comparing detailed information attendant upon eachprogram (information on the contents of the program, the genre of theprogram, the charge information for the program, the broadcasting timeof the program, etc.), in a great number of channels or programs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0037] Under such a background, the present invention is to solve theproblems as described above, and aims to provide a display controllingapparatus and method, and a storage medium storing processing steps forimplementing it so as to be readable by a computer, wherein a user caneasily and efficiently select a desired program.

[0038] These objectives are achieved by the provision of a displaycontrolling apparatus for controlling a display apparatus which displaysTV program information according to a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention which has receiving means for receiving programinformation on a plurality of programs, display control means forcontrolling so as to display first program information on the pluralityof programs on the basis of the program information received by thereceiving means on display means, and selection means for selectingfirst program information relating to an arbitrary program in the firstprogram information displayed on the display means, wherein the displaycontrol means controls so as to display second program information on aprogram relating to the first program information selected by theselection means, and controls so as to display the second programinformation on a plurality of the selected programs.

[0039] Objects and characteristic features other than the above of thepresent invention will become apparent from the detailed description ofembodiments of the invention with reference to the following drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040]FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the construction of areceiver for digital TV broadcasting to which the present invention isapplied in the first embodiment;

[0041]FIG. 2 is a view for explaining an example (example 1) of EPG(Electronic Program Guide) screen in the above receiver;

[0042]FIGS. 3A and 3B are views for explaining the constructions of anoperation unit and a remote controller of the above receiver;

[0043]FIG. 4 is a view for explaining an example (example 2) of EPGscreen in the above receiver;

[0044]FIG. 5 is a view for explaining an example (example 3) of EPGscreen in the above receiver;

[0045]FIG. 6 is a view for explaining an example (example 4) of EPGscreen in the above receiver;

[0046]FIG. 7 is a view for explaining an example (example 5) of EPGscreen in the above receiver;

[0047]FIG. 8 is a view for explaining an example (example 6) of EPGscreen in the above receiver;

[0048]FIG. 9 is a view for explaining an example (example 7) of EPGscreen in the above receiver;

[0049]FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating the construction of areceiver for digital TV broadcasting to which the present invention isapplied in the second embodiment;

[0050]FIG. 11 is a view for explaining an example (example 1) of EPGscreen in the above receiver;

[0051]FIGS. 12A and 12B are views for explaining the constructions of anoperation unit and a remote controller of the above receiver;

[0052]FIG. 13 is a view for explaining an example (example 2) of EPGscreen in the above receiver;

[0053]FIG. 14 is a view for explaining an example (example 3) of EPGscreen in the above receiver;

[0054]FIG. 15 is a view for explaining an example (example 4) of EPGscreen in the above receiver;

[0055]FIG. 16 is a view for explaining an example (example 5) of EPGscreen in the above receiver;

[0056]FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating the construction of aconventional receiver for digital TV broadcasting;

[0057]FIG. 18 is a flowchart for explaining processing for EPG screencomposition in the above receiver;

[0058]FIG. 19 is a view for explaining an example of EPG screen in theabove receiver; and

[0059]FIGS. 20A and 20B are views for explaining the constructions of anoperation unit and a remote controller of the above receiver.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0060] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to drawings.

[0061] (First Embodiment)

[0062] For example, the present invention is applied to a receiver 100for digital TV broadcasting as illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0063] <Whole Construction of Receiver 100>

[0064] As illustrated in the above FIG. 1, the receiver 100 of thisembodiment has a construction in which a scrolling control unit 121 aswell as a tuner unit 101, a descrambler 102, a demultiplexer 103, avideo decoder 104, an audio decoder 105, an EPG decoder 106, a memory107, an EPG screen composition unit 108, a display control unit 109, adigital/analogue converter (DAC) 110, an image display unit 112, a voiceoutput unit 113, an operation unit 114, a light-receiving unit 115, aremote controller 116, an IC card control unit 117, a system controlunit 118, a cursor designation distinction unit 119, and a cursorgenerating unit 120 is connected through a system bus 130.

[0065] Besides, the whole operation of the receiver 100 of thisembodiment is controlled by the system control unit 118. For example,the system control unit 118 performs operation control of the receiver100 as described later by reading out and executing a processing programstored in advance in a memory 140.

[0066] <Series of Operations of Receiver 100>

[0067] First, the tuner unit 101 receives data from an antenna andperforms processing of demodulation, error correction, etc., of thereceived data. In case that scramble for audience limitation is appliedto the data (transport stream (TS)) after processing in the tuner unit101, the descrambler 102 cancels the scramble of TS on the basis ofinformation from the IC card control unit 117 and information containedin the TS.

[0068] The demultiplexer 103 takes video data D1, audio data D2, and EPGdata D3 of a channel selected by a user out of TS from the descrambler102, i.e., TS in which video data, audio data, EPG data, etc., for aplurality of channels are time-division-multiplexed, supplies the videodata D1 to the video decoder 104, supplies the audio data D2 to theaudio decoder 105, and once stores the EPG data D3 in the memory 107.

[0069] The audio decoder 105 decodes the audio data D2 from thedemultiplexer 103 and outputs it to the DAC 110. The DAC 110 convertsthe output data of the audio decoder 105 into an analogue signal andthen voice-outputs it through the voice output unit 113.

[0070] The video decoder 104 decodes the video data D1 (data coded byMPEG2 or the like) from the demultiplexer 103 and supplies the videodata D1 after decoding to the display control unit 109. The EPG data D3stored in the memory 107 is supplied to the EPG decoder 106 by thecontrol from the system control unit 118 when a display instruction ofan EPG screen is issued from the user. The EPG decoder 106 generates EPGdisplay data D4 by decoding the EPG data D3 from the memory followingthe control from the scrolling control unit 121 the details of whichwill be described later, and supplied it to the EPG screen compositionunit 108.

[0071] The EPG screen composition unit 108 composes an EPG screen usingthe EPG display data D4 from the EPG decoder 106 following the controlfrom the scrolling control unit 121 the details of which will bedescribed later, and supplies it to the display control unit 109. Thedisplay control unit 109 switches the data of the EPG screen from theEPG screen composition unit 108 and the video data from the videodecoder 104 after decoding with each other and displays them to theimage display unit 112, or performs control for OSD (On ScreenDisplay)-displaying the EPG screen to the image display unit 112.

[0072] <Characteristic Construction and Operation of Receiver 100>

[0073] The receiver 100 is constructed so that in a state that attendantinformation concerning the first program selected from the user as anaudience program candidate is fixedly displayed in an arbitrary area onthe EPG screen, by the scrolling control unit 121, the receiver 100displays the EPG screen for selecting a subsequent audience programcandidate, and displays attendant information concerning the secondprogram selected by the user from the EPG screen together with theattendant information concerning the first program on the dame screen.Here, attendant information is detailed information concerning theprogram such that the contents, genre, performers' names, chargeinformation, broadcasting time, etc., of the program.

[0074] By this, the user becomes possible to select a desired programmore easily with comparing the attendant information on the firstprogram selected as the audience program candidate and the attendantinformation on the second program selected as the audience programcandidate after that. Hereinafter, such a construction and operation asa characteristic feature of this embodiment will be described morespecifically.

[0075]FIG. 2 illustrates an example of EPG screen (EPG screen 200)composed by the EPG screen composition unit 108. In the above FIG. 2,reference numeral “201” denotes a display area for indicating channelnames or channel number, and reference numeral “202” does a time axisfor specifying the start and end times of each channel program. And, onthe basis of a channel number axis and the time axis, items forselecting each program are list-displayed. Here, the item of eachprogram is a display such as D-2, A-1, or the like in the figure, andfor example, the program title of each program.

[0076] Reference numeral “203” denotes a selection cursor for selectinga desired program in each channel program, and reference numeral “204”does an area for displaying the channel name or channel, number, programtitle, broadcasting date and time, program contents, genre, chargeinformation, etc., of the program selected by the selection cursor 203.Reference numeral “205” denotes a display area for indicating thecurrent date and time, and reference numeral “206” does a display areafor indicating the name of the network currently selected. The selectioncursor 203 is generated by the cursor generating unit 120 (see the aboveFIG. 1), and capable of its movement, designation of an arbitrary area,and so on, by the operation unit 114 or the remote controller 116.

[0077]FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate an example of constructions of theoperation unit 114 and the remote controller 116. In the above FIGS. 3Aand 3B, reference numeral “301” denotes a light-receiving unit forperforming an infrared communication between the remote controller 116and the light-receiving unit 115 of the receiver 100 (see the above FIG.1). Reference numeral “302” denotes a 10-key for inputting a channelnumber or the like, and reference numeral “303” does an EPG displaybutton for displaying an EPG screen. Reference numerals “304 a to 304 d”denote cursor buttons for moving the selection cursor 203 (see the aboveFIG. 2) upward, downward, leftward, and rightward, and reference numeral“305” does a determination button for performing a determination of anarea selection designated by the selection cursor 203. Reference numeral“306” denotes a selection button the details of which will be describedlater.

[0078] Note that although the above FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate onlybuttons for performing operations for implementing main functions as anexample of this embodiment, the present invention is not limited tothis. Besides, in the operation unit 114 of the above FIG. 3A and theremote controller 116 of the same figure B, the same reference numeralsare added to the buttons that functions in the same manner.

[0079] In the EPG screen 200 of the above FIG. 2, the selection cursor203 is located at the position of a program D-2 to be broadcasted in thetime zone from 20:30 to 21:30 of 103 channel (channel of the channelnumber “103”). In this case, in the display area 204 displayed isattendant information (program detail information) on the program D-2,more specifically, information on the channel name through which theprogram D-2 is broadcasted, the channel number, the program title, thebroadcasting date and time, the program contents, the genre, the chargeinformation, and so on. In the state of the EPG screen 200 of the aboveFIG. 2, if the determination button 305 of the operation unit 114 or theremote controller 116 is depressed, the audience of the program D-2becomes possible. Note that in the above FIG. 2, since the current dateand time and time indicated by the display area 205 is before thebroadcasting time of the program D-2, in this case, an audiencereservation, a recording reservation, or the like of the program D-2 isperformed.

[0080] In the state of the EPG screen 200 of the above FIG. 2, when theselection button 306 of the operation unit 114 or the remote controller116 is depressed, the EPG screen 200 changes to the display stateillustrated in FIG. 4. The EPG screen 200(1) of the above FIG. 4 is inthe state that the original EPG screen 200 has been scrolled in bothdirections of the time axis and channel axis so that the item of theprogram D-2 selected by the selection cursor 203 may be displayed at theupper-leftmost.

[0081] The above scrolling process is performed by the scrolling controlunit 121. More specifically, the scrolling control unit 121 designatesEPG data necessary to be displayed after scrolling processing fromcursor position information (positional information on the selectioncursor 203) from the cursor designation distinction unit 119, to the EPGdecoder 106.

[0082] Therefore, the EPG decoder 106 takes out and decodes EPG datadesignated from the scrolling control unit 121 from TS supplied throughthe demultiplexer 103 and the memory 107, and then sends out it to theEPG screen composition unit 108. The EPG screen composition unit 108receives the data from the EPG decoder 106, composes an EPG screen fromthe data, and sends out it to the display control unit 109. The displaycontrol unit 109 displays the EPG screen from the EPG screen compositionunit 108 by the image display unit 112.

[0083] In the state of the EPG screen 200(1) of the above FIG. 4, byoperating the cursor buttons 304 a to 304 d of the operation unit 114 orthe remote controller 116, it becomes possible to move the selectioncursor 203 and select another program. For example, by this operation,in case that another program J-5 is selected, the EPG screen 200(1) ofthe above FIG. 4 changes to the display state illustrated in FIG. 5.

[0084] In the EPG screen 200(2) of the above FIG. 5, the selectioncursor 203 is located at the position of the program J-5 to bebroadcasted in the time zone from 21:30 to 22:30 in 109 channel.Besides, in the display area 204, the program attendant information onthe program D-2 previously selected remains in the displayed state, andin this state, program attendant information on the program J-5 selectedthis time is popup-displayed on the same EPG screen 200(2), as shown by“206” in the figure.

[0085] Therefore, the user can perform an audience determination witheasily comparing the program attendant information on the program D-2previously selected and the program attendant information on the programJ-5 selected next with each other on the same EPG screen 200(2). Forexample, to perform the audience determination of the program J-5, inthe state of the EPG screen 200(2) of the above FIG. 5, the user maydepress the determination button 305. Besides, to perform the audiencedetermination of the program D-2, the user may locate the selectioncursor 203 at the position of the program D-2 and depress thedetermination button 305.

[0086] Note that as operations for selection and/or determination of aprogram, the present invention is not limited to those by the selectioncursor 203 and the determination button 305 as described above, and forexample, channel/number may be directly input by the 10-key 302.

[0087] In the state of the EPG screen 200(2) of the above FIG. 5, whenthe cursor buttons 304 a to 304 d of the operation unit 114 or theremote controller 116 are operated and by the movement of the selectioncursor 203, another program, for example, a program K-4 is selected, theEPG screen 200(2) of the above FIG. 5 changes to the display stateillustrated in FIG. 6.

[0088] In the EPG screen 200(3) of the above FIG. 6, the selectioncursor 203 is located at the position of the program K-4 to bebroadcasted in the time zone from 21:00 to 22:00 in 110 channel.

[0089] Besides, in the display area 204, the program attendantinformation on the program D-2 selected first remains in the displayedstate, and in this state, program attendant information on the programK-4 selected this time is popup-displayed on the same EPG screen 200(3),as shown by “206” in the figure.

[0090] In the state of the EPG screen 200(3) of the above FIG. 6, whenthe selection button 306 of the operation unit 114 or the remotecontroller 116 is depressed, the EPG screen 200(3) of the above FIG. 6changes to the display state illustrated in FIG. 7.

[0091] The EPG screen 200(4) of-the above FIG. 7 is in the state thatthe EPG screen 200(3) in the previous state has been scrolled in bothdirections of the time axis and channel axis so that the item of theprogram K-4 selected by the selection cursor 203 may be displayed at theupper-leftmost. Besides, in the EPG screen 200(4) of the above FIG. 7,the program attendant information on the program K-4 popup-displayed inthe EPG screen 200(3) in the previous state is independently displayedto a display area 207 different from the display area 204 where theprogram attendant information on the program attendant information onthe program D-2 is displayed.

[0092] In the state of the EPG screen 200(4) of the above FIG. 7, byoperating the cursor buttons 304 a to 304 d of the operation unit 114 orthe remote controller 116, it becomes possible to move the selectioncursor 203 and select another program.

[0093] For example, by this operation, in case that another program M-5is selected, the EPG screen 200(4) of the above FIG. 7 changes to thedisplay state illustrated in FIG. 8.

[0094] In the EPG screen 200(5) of the above FIG. 8, the selectioncursor 203 is located at the position of the program M-5 to bebroadcasted in the time zone from 23:00 to 0:00 in 112 channel, andtogether with the program attendant information on the program D-2 andprogram K-4 displayed in the display area 204 and display area 207,program attendant information on the program M-5 selected this time ispopup-displayed on the same EPG screen 200(5), as shown by “206” in thefigure.

[0095] Therefore, the user can perform an audience determination witheasily comparing the program attendant information on the M-5 selectedthis time together with the program D-2 and program K-4 selectedpreviously.

[0096] Besides, in the state of the EPG screen 200(3) of the above FIG.6, by moving the selection cursor 203 in a direction of the time axis byoperating the cursor buttons 304 a to 304 d of the operation unit 114 orthe remote controller 116, it is possible to perform a display withswitching the time axis of the EPG display of 103 channel displayedpreviously with being fixed with the time axis of the EPG display of theother channel.

[0097]FIG. 9 illustrates a display screen 200 (3′) at this time. Also inthis display screen 200 (3′), as described above, the program attendantinformation on the program K-3 at which the selection cursor 203 islocated can be popup-displayed, and an audience determination can beperformed with easily comparing this and the program attendantinformation on the program D-2 previously selected on the same screen200 (3′).

[0098] As described above, in this embodiment, in an audience programselection by EPG (Electronic Program Guide), when a predeterminedoperation is performed from a user and the first program is selected asan audience program candidate, attendant information (program detailinformation) concerning the first program is fixedly displayed in anarbitrary area on the EPG screen, and in this display state, further,the second program, the third program, . . . , can be selected asaudience program candidates on the EPG screen. Besides, if the secondprogram is selected as the audience program candidate, in the state thatthe attendant information concerning the first program is fixedlydisplayed in the arbitrary area, attendant information concerning thesecond program is displayed on the same screen. After then, similarly inrelation to the selection of the third program, in the state that theattendant information concerning the program previously selected isfixedly displayed in an arbitrary area, attendant information concerningthe program selected this time is displayed on the same screen. By sucha construction, with displaying the attendant information on apredetermined program in the EPG screen, further, attendant informationon a program can selectively be displayed, and attendant informationconcerning a plurality of programs can be displayed on the same screen.Therefore, the user becomes possible to perform the selection of adesired program more easily with comparing the respective programsselected as the audience program candidates as the first program, thesecond program, the third program, . . . , by the attendant information.

[0099] (Second Embodiment)

[0100] For example, the present invention is applied to a receiver 500for digital TV broadcasting as illustrated in FIG. 10.

[0101] Note that in the receiver 500 of the above FIG. 10, the samereference numerals are assigned to the parts that operate in the samemanner as in the receiver 100 of the above FIG. 1, and the detaileddescription thereof will be omitted. Here, only the constructiondifferent from the first embodiment will be described specifically.

[0102] The receiver 500 of this embodiment is provided with two tunermodule units 101 a and 101 b connected so as to correspond to twoantennas 1 and 2, respectively, and a switch unit 501 for outputtingeach output of the tuner module units 101 a and 101 b with beingswitched, wherein the output of the switch unit 501 is supplied to thevideo decoder 104, the audio decoder 105, and the EPG decoder 106,respectively.

[0103] The tuner module units 101 a and 101 b each have the samefunctions as the tuner unit 101, the descrambler 102, the demultiplexer103, and so on.

[0104] Besides, to these tuner module units 101 a and 101 b, data inputthrough the antennas 1 and 2 are different from each other in network asthe transmission path of the data. For example, in the antenna 1, firstdigital TV broadcasting is received, and in the antenna 2, seconddigital TV broadcasting different from the first digital TV broadcastingis received. As the first and second digital TV broadcastings, variousbroadcastings such as BS digital TV broadcasting, CS digital TVbroadcasting, ground wave digital TV broadcasting, cable digital TVbroadcasting, and so on are applicable.

[0105] Therefore, the tuner module unit 101 a takes out video data D11,audio data D12, and EPG data D13 of a channel selected from a user fromdata of the first digital TV broadcasting received by the antenna 1, andsupplies these data D1, D12, and D13 to the switch unit 501. Besides,the tuner module unit 101 b also takes out video data D21, audio dataD22, and EPG data D23 of a channel selected from the user from data ofthe second digital TV broadcasting received by the antenna 2, andsupplies these data D21, D22, and D23 to the switch unit 501.

[0106] The switch unit 501 selects one of the data D11, D12, and D13from the tuner module unit 101 a and the data D21, D22, and D23 from thetuner module unit 101 b, and outputs the selected data as data D31, D32,and D33.

[0107] As for the data D31, D32, and D33 output from the switch unit501, the data D31 is supplied to the video decoder 104 to be decoded,the data D32 is supplied to the audio decoder 105 to be decoded, and thedata D33 is supplied through the memory 107 to the EPG decoder 106 to bedecoded.

[0108]FIG. 11 illustrates an example of EPG screen (EPG screen 600)composed by the EPG screen composition unit 108 of this embodiment. Inthe above FIG. 11, reference numeral “601” denotes a display area forindicating channel names or channel number, and reference numeral “602”does a time axis for specifying the start and end times of each channelprogram.

[0109] Reference numeral “603” denotes a selection cursor for selectinga desired program in each channel program, and reference numeral “604”does an area for displaying the channel name or channel, number, programtitle, broadcasting date and time, program contents, genre, chargeinformation, etc., of the program selected by the selection cursor 603.

[0110] Reference numeral “605” denotes a display area for indicating thecurrent date and time, and reference numeral “606” does a display areafor indicating the name of the network currently selected (“network 1”in the above FIG. 11). Reference numeral “607” denotes a display areafor indicating the names of networks currently selectable. In the aboveFIG. 11, “network 1” and “network 2” are currently selectable, and forexample, “network 1” corresponds to the antenna 1 and the tuner moduleunit 101 a and “network 2” corresponds to the antenna 2 and the tunermodule unit 101 b. The selection cursor 603 is generated by the cursorgenerating unit 120 (see the above FIG. 10), and capable of itsmovement, designation of an arbitrary area, and so on, by the operationunit 114 or the remote controller 116.

[0111]FIGS. 12A and 12B illustrate an example of constructions of theoperation unit 114 and the remote controller 116 of this embodiment.Note that in the operation unit 114 and the remote controller 116illustrated in the above FIGS. 12A and 12B, parts that function in thesame manner as in the operation unit 114 and the remote controller 116illustrated in the above FIG. 3 are denoted by the same referencenumerals and the detailed description thereof is omitted. Besides,although the above FIGS. 12A and 12B illustrate only buttons forperforming operations for implementing main functions as an example ofthis embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this. Besides,in the operation unit 114 of the above FIG. 12A and the remotecontroller 116 of the same figure B, the same reference numerals areadded to the buttons that functions in the same manner.

[0112] As illustrated in the above FIGS. 12A and 12B, the operation unit114 and the remote controller 116 of this embodiment each have aconstruction that is further provided with a change button 310. Thechange button 310 is a button for switching the selection networkbetween “network 1” and “network 2”, and for example, in the state thatthe EPG screen 600 of the above FIG. 11 is displayed, that is, in thestate that the EPG screen 600 for “network 1”, by depressing the changebutton 310, as illustrated in FIG. 13, switching to an EPG screen 600(1)for “network 2” is possible.

[0113] In the EPG screen 600 of the above FIG. 11, the selection cursor603 is located at the position of the program D-2 to be broadcasted inthe time zone from 20:30 to 21:30 of 103 channel (channel of the channelnumber “103”). In this case, in the display area 604 displayed is theattendant information (program detail information) on the program D-2,more specifically, the information on the channel name through which theprogram D-2 is broadcasted, the channel number, the program title, thebroadcasting date and time, the program contents, the genre, the chargeinformation, and so on.

[0114] In the state of the EPG screen 600 of the above FIG. 11, if thedetermination button 305 of the operation unit 114 or the remotecontroller 116 is depressed, the audience of the program D-2 becomespossible. Note that in the above FIG. 11, since the current date andtime and time indicated by the display area 205 is before thebroadcasting time of the program D-2, in this case, an audiencereservation, a recording reservation, or the like of the program D-2 isperformed.

[0115] In the state of the EPG screen 600 of the above FIG. 11, when theselection button 306 of the operation unit 114 or the remote controller116 is depressed, the EPG screen 600 changes to the display stateillustrated in FIG. 14. The EPG screen 600(2) of the above FIG. 14 is inthe state that the original EPG screen 600 has been scrolled in bothdirections of the time axis and channel axis so that the item of theprogram D-2 selected by the selection cursor 603 may be displayed at theupper-leftmost.

[0116] The above scrolling process is performed by the scrolling controlunit 121. More specifically, the scrolling control unit 121 designatesEPG data necessary to be displayed after scrolling processing fromcursor position information (positional information on the selectioncursor 603) from the cursor designation distinction unit 119, to the EPGdecoder 106.

[0117] Therefore, the EPG decoder 106 takes out and decodes EPG datadesignated from the scrolling control unit 121 from TS (data D33)supplied through the tuner module unit 101 a, the switch unit 501, andthe memory 107, and then sends out it to the EPG screen composition unit108. The EPG screen composition unit 108 receives the data from the EPGdecoder 106, composes an EPG screen from the data, and sends out it tothe display control unit 109. The display control unit 109 displays theEPG screen from the EPG screen composition unit 108 by the image displayunit 112.

[0118] In the state of the EPG screen 600(2) of the above FIG. 14, whenthe change button 310 of the operation unit 114 or the remote controller116 is depressed, the EPG screen 600(2) changes to the display stateillustrated in FIG. 15. The EPG screen 600(3) of the above FIG. 15 is inthe state that the EPG screen for “network 1” and the EPG screen for“network 2” different from “network 1” are displayed to the same screen600(3).

[0119] The above display control is executed as follows. First, thescrolling control unit 121 requests EPG data necessary to be displayedafter scrolling processing from cursor position information (positionalinformation on the selection cursor 603) from the cursor designationdistinction unit 119, to the system control unit 118 and the EPG decoder106. The system control unit 118 performs an operation control fortaking out EPG data necessary for the tuner module unit 101 b to composea desired EPG screen (EPG screen for “network 2”) from TS, as well as aswitching control of the switch unit 501.

[0120] The EPG decoder 106 decodes the EPG data input by the control ofthe system control unit 118 to generate EPG display data D43. The EPGscreen composition unit 108 composes an EPG screen (EPG screen for“network 2”) using the EPG display data D43 obtained in the EPG decoder106, and supplies it to the display control unit 109. The displaycontrol unit 109 performs a control for displaying the EPG screen fromthe EPG screen composition unit 108 on the image display unit 112.

[0121] As a result of the display control as described above, on theimage display unit 112 displayed is the EPG screen 600(3) as illustratedin FIG. 15. In the above FIG. 15, by reference numeral “608”, it isspecified that the EPG screen displayed in the lower column concerns“network 2”, and in the display area 607, it is specified that each EPGscreen of “network 1” and “network 2” is displayed on the same screen.

[0122] In the state of the EPG screen 600(3) of the above FIG. 15, whenthe cursor buttons 304 a to 304 d of the operation unit 114 or theremote controller 116 are operated and by the movement of the selectioncursor 603, another program, for example, a program GG-4 in “network 2”is selected, the EPG screen 600(3) of the above FIG. 15 changes to thedisplay state illustrated in FIG. 16.

[0123] In the EPG screen 600(4) of the above FIG. 16, the selectioncursor 603 is located at the position of the program GG-4 to bebroadcasted in the time zone from 21:30 to 22:30 in 13 channel of“network 2”. Besides, in the display area 604, the program attendantinformation on the program D-2 of “network 1” selected first remains inthe displayed state, and in this state, program attendant information onthe program GG4 of “network 2” selected this time is popup-displayed onthe same EPG screen 600(4), as shown by “609” in the figure.

[0124] Therefore, the user can perform an audience determination witheasily comparing the program attendant information on the program D-2 of“network 1” previously selected and the program attendant information onthe program GG-4 of “network 2” selected next with each other on thesame screen 600(4).

[0125] For example, to perform the audience determination of the programGG-4, in the state of the EPG screen 600(4) of the above FIG. 16, theuser may depress the determination button 305. Besides, to perform theaudience determination of the program D-2, the user may locate theselection cursor 603 at the position of the program D-2 and depress thedetermination button 305. Note that as operations for selection and/ordetermination of a program, the present invention is not limited tothose by the selection cursor 603 and the determination button 305 asdescribed above, and for example, channel/number may be directly inputby the 10-key 302.

[0126] As described above, in this embodiment, in an audience programselection by EPG (Electronic Program Guide), when a predeterminedoperation is performed from a user and the first program existing on acertain network (“network 1”) is selected as an audience programcandidate, attendant information (program attendant information)concerning the first program is fixedly displayed in an arbitrary areaon the EPG screen, and in this display state, the second program, thethird program, . . . , existing on a different network (“network 2”) orthe same network can be selected as audience program candidates furtheron the EPG screen. Besides, if the second program of the differentnetwork (“network 2”) is selected as the audience program candidate, inthe state that the attendant information concerning the first program of“network 1” is fixedly displayed in the arbitrary area, attendantinformation concerning the second program of “network 2” is displayed onthe same screen. After then, similarly in relation to the selection ofthe third program, in the state that the attendant informationconcerning the program previously selected is fixedly displayed in anarbitrary area, attendant information concerning the program selectedthis time is displayed on the same screen.

[0127] By such a construction, with displaying the attendant informationon a predetermined program in the EPG screen, further, attendantinformation on a program existing on a different network can selectivelybe displayed, and attendant information concerning a plurality ofprograms can be displayed on the same screen irrespective of thedifference in network. Therefore, the user becomes possible to performthe selection of a desired program more easily with comparing therespective programs selected as the audience program candidates as thefirst program, the second program, the third program, . . . , by theattendant information.

[0128] Note that it is needless to say that the objects of the presentinvention are achieved by supplying a storage medium storing programcodes of software that implement the functions of the host and terminalof the first and second embodiments, to a system or apparatus, and by acomputer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reading out andexecuting the program codes stored in the storage medium. In this case,the program codes themselves read out from the storage medium implementthe functions of the first and second embodiments, and the storagemedium storing the program codes constitutes the present invention. Asthe storage medium for supplying the program codes, a ROM, a floppydisk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, aCD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, or the like can beused. Besides, it is needless to say that not only a case wherein thefunctions of the first and second embodiments are implemented by acomputer executing the read-out program codes, but also a case whereinOS or the like operating on the computer performs part or all of theactual processes and the functions of the first and second embodimentsare implemented by the processes is included.

[0129] Further, it is needless to say that a case wherein after theprogram codes read out from the storage medium are written in a memoryprovided in an extension function board inserted in the computer or afunction extension unit connected to the computer, on the basis ofinstructions of the program codes, a CPU or the like provided in thefunction extension board or function extension unit performs part or allof the actual processes and the functions of the first and secondembodiments are implemented by the processes is included.

[0130] As described above, in the present invention, with displayingdetailed program information on a predetermined program in a screen fordisplaying program information, further, detailed program information onan arbitrary program can selectively be displayed, and detailed programinformation concerning a plurality of programs can be displayed on thesame screen. Therefore, a user becomes possible to perform the selectionof a desired program more easily with comparing the respective programsselected as audience program candidates as the first program, the secondprogram, the third program, . . . , by the detailed program information.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display controlling apparatus for controlling adisplay apparatus which displays TV program information, comprising:receiving means for receiving program information on a plurality ofprograms; display control means for controlling so as to display firstprogram information on said plurality of programs on the basis of theprogram information received by said receiving means on display means;and selection means for selecting first program information relating toan arbitrary program in the first program information displayed on saiddisplay means, wherein said display control means controls so as todisplay second program information on a program relating to said firstprogram information selected by said selection means, and controls so asto display the second program information on a plurality of saidselected programs.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saidsecond program information is information more detailed than said firstprogram information.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saidsecond program information includes at least one piece of information ofa title of a program, information concerning contents of the program,information concerning a genre to which the program belongs, chargeinformation to the program, and information concerning a broadcastingtime of the program.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saidfirst program information is displayed in the form of a program tableindicating program titles with channel number information being avertical axis (horizontal axis) and broadcasting time information onprogram being a horizontal axis (vertical axis).
 5. An apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein said display control means controls so asto display said first program information and second program informationon a program relating to said first program information selected by saidselection means on the same screen.
 6. An apparatus according to claim1, wherein said selection means can select arbitrary first programinformation in a state that said second program information, and saiddisplay control means controls so as to display second programinformation relating to said further selected first program informationon the same screen as said displayed second program information.
 7. Anapparatus according to claim 6, wherein when selecting further arbitraryfirst program information by said selection means, said display controlmeans controls so as to selectively display first program information onsaid plurality of programs so as not to eliminate a display of the firstprogram information selected by said selection means.
 8. An apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein said display control means controls so asto fixedly display said second program information to an arbitrary areain said screen and so as to selectively display said first programinformation in said screen.
 9. An apparatus according to claim 8,wherein after fixedly di splaying said second program information insaid arbitrary area, said display control means displays second programinformation relating to a program of the first program informationselected by said s election means selectively in accordance with theselection operation and adjacent to said selected first programinformation.
 10. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein saidreceiving means receives program information relating to programstransmitted by different transmission paths, and said display controlmeans controls so as to display a plurality of pieces of said secondprogram information relating to programs transmitted by said differenttransmission paths, respectively.
 11. An apparatus according to claim10, wherein said display control means controls so as to fixedly displaysaid second program information in an arbitrary area in said screen andso as to selectively display first program information on a programtransmitted by a transmission path different from the program of thedisplayed second program information in said screen.
 12. An apparatusaccording to claim 10, wherein said transmission paths include at leastone of digital television broadcasting by a communication satellite(CS), digital broadcasting by a broadcasting satellite (BS), digitaltelevision broadcasting by ground waves, and digital televisionbroadcasting by cable transmission.
 13. A display controlling method forcontrolling a display apparatus which displays TV program information,comprising: the receiving step of receiving program information on aplurality of programs; the display control step of controlling so as todisplay first program information on said plurality of programs on thebasis of said received program information on display means; and theselecting step of selecting first program information relating to anarbitrary program in the first program information displayed on saiddisplay means, wherein said display control step controls so as todisplay second program information on a program relating to saidselected first program information, and controls so as to display thesecond program information on a plurality of said selected programs. 14.A method according to claim 13, wherein said second program informationis information more detailed than said first program information.
 15. Amethod according to claim 13, wherein said second program informationincludes at least one piece of information of a title of a program,information concerning contents of the program, information concerning agenre to which the program belongs, charge information to the program,and information concerning a broadcasting time of the program.
 16. Amethod according to claim 13, wherein said first program information isdisplayed in the form of a program table indicating program titles withchannel number information being a vertical axis (horizontal axis) andbroadcasting time information on program being a horizontal axis(vertical axis).
 17. A method according to claim 13, wherein saiddisplay control step controls so as to display said first programinformation and second program information on a program relating to saidfirst program information selected by said selecting step on the samescreen.
 18. A method according to claim 13, wherein said selecting stepcan select arbitrary first program information in a state that saidsecond program information, and said display control step controls so asto display second program information relating to said further selectedfirst program information on the same screen as said displayed secondprogram information.
 19. A method according to claim 18, wherein whenselecting further arbitrary first program information by said selectingstep, said display control step controls so as to selectively displayfirst program information on said plurality of programs so as not toeliminate a display of the first program information selected by saidselecting step.
 20. A method according to claim 13, wherein said displaycontrol step controls so as to fixedly display said second programinformation to an arbitrary area in said screen and so as to selectivelydisplay said first program information in said screen.
 21. A methodaccording to claim 20, wherein after fixedly displaying said secondprogram information in said arbitrary area, said display control stepdisplays second program information relating to a program of the firstprogram information selected by said selecting step selectively inaccordance with the selection operation and adjacent to said selectedfirst program information.
 22. A method according to claim 13, whereinsaid receiving step receives program information concerning programstransmitted by different transmission paths, and said display controlstep controls so as to display a plurality of pieces of said secondprogram information relating to programs transmitted by said differenttransmission paths, respectively.
 23. A method according to claim 22,wherein said display control step controls so as to fixedly display saidsecond program information in an arbitrary area in said screen and so asto selectively display first program information on a programtransmitted by a transmission path different from the program of thedisplayed second program information in said screen.
 24. A methodaccording to claim 22, wherein said transmission paths include at leastone of digital television broadcasting by a communication satellite(CS), digital broadcasting by a broadcasting satellite (BS), digitaltelevision broadcasting by ground waves, and digital televisionbroadcasting by cable transmission.
 25. A storage medium storing programdata for executing the following display controlling method: thereceiving step of receiving program information on a plurality ofprograms; the display control step of controlling so as to display firstprogram information on said plurality of programs on the basis of saidreceived program information on display means; and the selecting step ofselecting first program information relating to an arbitrary program inthe first program information displayed on said display means, whereinsaid display control step controls so as to display second programinformation on a program relating to said selected first programinformation, and controls so as to display the second programinformation on a plurality of said selected programs.
 26. A displaycontrolling apparatus, comprising: receiving means for receivingtelevision signals including EPG (Electronic Program Guide) dataindicating program information on a plurality of programs; output meansfor outputting program table data for list-displaying programinformation relating to said plurality of programs on the basis of theEPG data received by said receiving means, to display means; selectionmeans for selecting program information relating to an arbitrary programfrom a list display of the program information displayed on said displaymeans; and display control means for controlling said display means soas to display detailed program information relating to the program ofthe program information on the same screen as the list display of saidprogram information in accordance with a selection operation by saidselection means, wherein in a state that detailed program informationrelating to the first program selected by said selection means isdisplayed by said display means, said selection means can further selectprogram information relating to an arbitrary program in the programinformation relating to said plurality of programs, and said displaycontrol means controls so as to display detailed program informationrelating to said selected second program on the same screen as thedetailed program information relating to said first program.
 27. Anapparatus according to claim 26, wherein said detailed programinformation includes at least one piece of information of a title of aprogram, information concerning contents of the program, informationconcerning a genre to which the program belongs, charge information tothe program, and information concerning a broadcasting time of theprogram.
 28. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said programinformation is displayed in the form of a program table indicatingprogram titles with channel number information being a vertical axis(horizontal axis) and broadcasting time information on program being ahorizontal axis (vertical axis).
 29. An apparatus according to claim 26,wherein said display control means controls said display means so as tofixedly display said detailed program information to an arbitrary areain said screen and so as to selectively display said program informationin said screen.
 30. An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein afterfixedly displaying said detailed program information in said arbitraryarea, said display control means controls so as to selectively displaydetailed program information relating to a program of the programinformation selected by said selection means in accordance with theselection operation.
 31. An apparatus according to claim 26, whereinsaid receiving means receives EPG data relating to programs transmittedby different transmission paths, and said display control means controlsso as to display a plurality of pieces of said detailed programinformation relating to programs transmitted by said differenttransmission paths, respectively.
 32. An apparatus according to claim31, wherein said display control means controls so as to fixedly displaysaid detailed program information in an arbitrary area in said screenand so as to selectively display program information on a programtransmitted by a transmission path different from the program of thedisplayed detailed program information in said screen.
 33. An apparatusaccording to claim 31, wherein said transmission paths include at leastone of digital television broadcasting by a communication satellite(CS), digital broadcasting by a broadcasting satellite (BS), digitaltelevision broadcasting by ground waves, and digital televisionbroadcasting by cable transmission.
 34. A display controlling method forcontrolling a display apparatus which displays TV program information,comprising steps of: receiving television signals including EPG(Electronic Program Guide) data indicating program information on aplurality of programs; outputting program table data for list-displayingprogram information relating to said plurality of programs on the basisof said received EPG data, to display means; selecting programinformation relating to an arbitrary program from a list display of theprogram information displayed on said display means; and controllingsaid display means so as to display detailed program informationrelating to the program of the program information on the same screen asthe list display of said program information in accordance with saidselection operation; and in a state that detailed program informationrelating to said selected first program is displayed by said displaymeans, capable of selecting program information relating to an arbitraryprogram in the program information relating to said plurality ofprograms, controlling said display means so as to display detailedprogram information relating to said selected second program on the samescreen as the detailed program information relating to said firstprogram.
 35. A storage medium storing program data for executing thefollowing display controlling method: receiving television signalsincluding EPG (Electronic Program Guide) data indicating programinformation on a plurality of programs; outputting program table datafor list-displaying program information relating to said plurality ofprograms on the basis of said received EPG data, to display means;selecting program information relating to an arbitrary program from alist display of the program information displayed on said display means;and controlling said display means so as to display detailed programinformation relating to the program of the program information on thesame screen as the list display of said program information inaccordance with said selection operation; and in a state that detailedprogram information relating to said selected first program is displayedby said display means, capable of selecting program information relatingto an arbitrary program in the program information relating to saidplurality of programs, controlling said display means so as to displaydetailed program information relating to said selected second program onthe same screen as the detailed program information relating to saidfirst program.